Worthy Brief - 10/9/2024

[WorthyNewsBot]

Friend, God is reaching all people – and you are part of His plan!

Jonah 1:14, 16 Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, "We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You."

Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

While most read the story of Jonah focusing on Jonah's journey, I want to pause and examine the lives of the pagan sailors. What a journey they were on! We see the hand of God touching them providentially through Jonah's disobedience. Talk about God bringing good from evil. Here He draws them into a desperate sea voyage and almost incidentally reveals to them the impotence of their gods, who have no power whatsoever to stop the deadly storm. In their total helplessness the God of Heaven then introduces Himself through his runaway prophet. And suddenly, the sailors are crying out to YHVH.

They are not crying out to their gods any longer – but now are crying to the true God of Israel.

And God performs a miracle for them, when Jonah is tossed into the sea, the storm suddenly calmed... and the amazing miracle evokes what sounds like prophesying, as they offer sacrifices and vows in worship to YHVH. "For You, O Lord, have done as you pleased!" The whole crew is converted. So, while Jonah is fish food – there's a revival happening on board.

And now these wonder struck sailors have quite a fish story to tell in all their subsequent travels concerning the wayward prophet who disappeared beneath the waves as his God stilled the perfect storm. And the Lord has a boat full of newborn missionaries heading to Tarshish...

Friend, our God desires all people throughout the world to hear His message. His providence is such that anywhere His servants find themselves becomes a place and a moment of opportunity for Him. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; [2 Timothy 4:2] Even Jonah's gross disobedience didn't stop the Lord from using him as a testimony. We need to be aware of who we are and what we carry for Yeshua (Jesus). His love and faithfulness to us is such that even our discipline can become a vehicle for expressing His love to the world.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna
(Knoxville, Tennessee)

Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are now booking in the following states. Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida! If you know Rabbis, Pastors or Leaders who might be interested in powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.

Around the World
Hungary’s Anti-Migration PM Interrupted At EU News Briefing
Hungary’s fiercely anti-migration prime minister lashed out at the European Union during a tense news conference interrupted by a furious activist and politician.
Biden: US and Israel “Discussing” Response to Iran Attack, Possibly Striking Iranian Oil Facilities
Reiterating his administration’s intent to “help Israel” in its response to the Iranian regime’s October 1 ballistic missile attack on the Jewish state, US President Joe Biden said last week that American and Israeli leaders were “in discussion” about how to respond and that striking Iran’s oil facilities was not off the table, the Times of Israel responded.
Social Media Platform Telegram Faces Mideast Troubles
Social media platform Telegram says that “due to the recent events in the Middle East, particularly in Israel, Lebanon, and Iran,” it “experienced unprecedented loads.”

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel’s Prime Minister Pledges Victory To Grieving Nation
Israel’s embattled prime minister pledged Monday on the October 7 massacre's anniversary that “together with God’s grace,” the grieving Jewish nation will triumph over evil.
Torah Ceremony In Jerusalem Marks October 7 Day of Mourning
A Torah dedication ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem marked the first anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas fighters in Israel honoring victims and fallen soldiers.
Israel Expands Offensive In Lebanon Despite Warnings From Iran
Israel's military expanded its offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah on Tuesday with troops moving into a new zone in southwest Lebanon, despite new warnings from Iran.

Inside the United States
Biden Cancels Trip As Florida Flees Hurricane Milton (Worthy News In-Depth)
Joe Biden canceled a trip to Germany and his first visit to Africa as the U.S. president because Hurricane Milton was to hit Florida, where officials warned residents, “You are going to die” if they stayed behind.
Deficit Nears $2 Trillion as Lawmakers Borrow $5 Billion Per Day
The U.S. annual deficit is nearing $2 trillion for this fiscal year, almost double the record deficits before the COVID-19 pandemic, as federal borrowing hit more than $5 billion per day.
Database: More Than 13,000 Gender Reassignment Procedures on Minors Between 2019-23
Sex reassignment procedures and surgeries on children have gained national prominence in recent years, and half of U.S. states now have laws passed either restricting or banning them.
US Employers Adds Over 250,000 Jobs in September
Defying economists’ forecasts that the US would see around 150,000 jobs added in September, American employers instead added 254,000 jobs last month. The surge in job creation was reported by the US Labor Department on Friday, October 4.

Christian News
Afghanis Are Tiring of Islam and Turning to Christ, Report
Just over three years since the Islamic extremist Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Open Doors UK international advocacy organization spoke to three Christian widows who confirmed that, amid intense oppression and danger, Afghanis have been turning from Islam to Christ.
Nigeria: Fulani Herdsmen Slaughter Seven Christians in Benue State, “The Nigerian Government Must Take Action”
With a new Islamist president who is seen to have no respect for believers in Christ, Nigeria continues to be the world’s deadliest country for Christians: Fulani jihadist herdsmen continued their slaughter of Christians by murdering seven people in Egwuma village, Agatu County, Benue state last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The attack was the fourth to be carried out in the region over the previous four weeks.

View the full article